Marjoram Substitutes

What happens if you run out of an ingredient, while preparing a recipe. You may either get the ingredient from the nearby store or replace it with some substitute. Oregano, thyme, sage etc are best substitutes for marjoram.

Tastessence Staff

Last Updated: Feb 2, 2018

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is one of the popular herbs, that is very widely used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The aromatic leaves of this herb are used in both fresh and dried forms. This herb is said to be Mediterranean in origin. It is an indispensable herb in both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. It has a sweet pine and citrus flavor and belongs to the genus Origanum in the family Lamiaceae. Marjoram has been used to season meat dishes, stews and vegetables. It is one of the indispensable ingredients in the popular French herbal mix called, Herbes de Provence and is also used in the traditional Arabian herbal concoction Za'atar.

Marjoram is related to oregano, but, it is much lighter and sweeter in taste. Both fresh and dried forms of marjoram are used for cooking. Fresh leaves are added to salads, roast meat sandwiches, egg dishes, soups, poultry stuffing and pot roast. It is sometimes referred to as 'meat herb' as it complements a wide range of meat dishes, but, marjoram works well with vegetable dishes too.

Marjoram goes well with other herbs like basil, bay leaves, garlic and thyme. You can grow this herb in your garden and harvest it, when required. Its leaves can be harvested and dried in shade. Fresh leaves of marjoram are preferred to dried and frozen ones. If fresh leaves are not available, you can go for dried ones in the ratio of one teaspoon dried leaves for one tablespoon fresh leaves.

Marjoram Substitution

So, you can substitute fresh marjoram with dried or frozen forms. Sometimes, it may happen that you run out all forms of marjoram and you need it urgently. In such circumstances, you have to resort to some other substitute. The most commonly used substitute is oregano, either fresh or dried form. Being closely related to marjoram, oregano can be used as a replacement for the latter. However, make sure to use oregano in lesser amounts, as it has a stronger flavor, as compared to marjoram. If you require three tablespoons of marjoram, use only two tablespoons of oregano. Fresh basil can be one of the alternatives, but, it is more suitable for dishes like pasta. Even parsley can be used as a substitute for marjoram, in pasta. Other marjoram substitutes include thyme, sage and summer savory. These herbs can be used as per individual preferences and the type of dish. The following is a compilation of the different substitutes for this herb. For a tablespoon of chopped fresh marjoram, you may use any of the following substitutes.

Marjoram is believed to have numerous health benefits, which can be reaped by using fresh leaves. It is always better to use fresh leaves rather than dried ones. Add the leaves towards the end of cooking to retain its nutritional value. While using marjoram substitutes, make sure that the flavor of the dish is not altered. For this purpose, you have to choose that substitute that goes well with the specific dish.